IACUC Overview

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has four Animal Care and Use Committees

Federal law requires oversight of animal use in research. Research institutions registered with the USDA and that hold an Assurance from the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare must appoint an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to perform this oversight. IACUCs have legal responsibilities to review, approve, monitor, and withdraw approval of animal activities on an ongoing basis.

Most research institutions have one IACUC, but the University of Wisconsin-Madison has four. They represent the
College of Agricultural and Life Science
School of Medicine and Public Health
School of Veterinary Medicine
College of Letters and Sciences and Vice Chancellor Office for Research

These IACUCs ensure that the care and use of animals on campus is ethical and humane by consulting federal regulations, veterinary standards of care, campus policies, and facility standard operating procedures. The IACUCs

• provide the initial and ongoing review and approval of all activities involving animals
• conduct semiannual inspections of all areas where animals are housed or undergo procedures. Learn more.
• conduct semiannual reviews of the overall institutional program of animal care
• continuously oversee and evaluate all aspects of the animal care program

Deficiencies found during reviews and inspections must by law be resolved. If not, an institution can lose the ability to use animals and all federal funding for animal research.

All Campus Animal Planning and Advisory Committee
The All Campus Animal Planning and Advisory Committee (ACAPAC) advises the Institutional Official on matters related to oversight of the ethical and humane use of animals in all university research, teaching, and outreach activities. The ACAPAC membership includes the chief campus veterinarian (attending veterinarian), the IACUCs' chairs, researchers with active animal programs, animal facility managers, and representatives of UW Legal Services. Subject matter experts are invited to participate in ACAPAC activities as needed. Learn more about the ACAPAC's charge and see its meeting calendar.